3/14/2011 12:26 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Richard Hatch -- the guy who won $1 million on Season 1 of "Survivor" -- has been ordered to surrender to U.S. marshals by NOON today to begin a 9-month prison sentence for not paying taxes on the prize money.

Hatch had filed a request to delay his surrender until he could get his business affairs in order ... but earlier today, the judge shot down the request ... which means Hatch better get his ass over to his nearest marshals station ASAP.

Hatch is currently a contestant on "Celebrity Apprentice" -- and though most of the season has already been taped ... the finale will be LIVE in a couple of months.

So, if by chance ... Hatch makes it all the way to the final 2 ... Trump better make sure he can broadcast from behind bars!

UPDATE: Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal David Remington tells us Hatch has officially surrendered to authorities.

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2/19/2011 11:00 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

"Survivor: Redemption Island" contestant Russell Hantz claims he NEVER leaked secrets about the reality series to a fan blog site -- but TMZ has obtained emails between Russell and the fan who posted the show spoilers.

TMZ spoke with Jim Early who admits publishing spoilers about "Survivor: Samoa," and "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" -- which both featured Russell. Some of the leaks include how Russell found an immunity idol -- and revealing Russell made the final 3 ... before the episode aired.

The emails -- from September and October 2009 when
"Survivor: Samoa" was airing -- were sent between "The Game" (Jim) and "Hantztankering" (Russell). Hantztankering is the name
of a water tank company Russell owns.

Jim says he initially met Russell through a "Survivor" fan site ... and after that "he just started telling me what happened on the show."

Jim claims he's coming forward with the emails because he's angry Russell has falsely accused innocent cast members of being the snitch.

Remember, Russell is on the current season of "Survivor" which premiered this week. Calls to Russell and "Survivor" reps were not returned.

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1/20/2011 10:25 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

Leave it to a "Survivor" winner to get picked up from jail in a LIMOUSINE!

Judson "Fabio" Birza -- who won $1,000,000 on the most recent season of "Survivor" -- walked right out of jail and into a white stretch limo last night ... minutes after he was released from the Santa Monica police station.

As we previously reported, Birza was hauled to the slammer last night after cops arrested him on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance ... while skateboarding.

Fabio told us, "Dude, this is such bulls**t ... I got treated like a baby."

Moments after he got into the limo -- Birza and his buddies popped a few Tecates to celebrate his newfound freedom.

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1/20/2011 12:30 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

Judson Birza, the winner of "Survivor," season 21 in Nicaragua, was arrested Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops noticed Birza at around noon riding a skateboard in the street -- which is illegal. They stopped Birza, noticed he was acting strangely, and determined he was under the influence.

Santa Monica police arrested Birza and took him to the station, where he was booked (see mug shot above) and jailed.

Birza was also booked for a DUI related warrant as well as a probation violation.

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5/23/2010 6:15 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

TMZ has learned one of Bruce Beresford-Redman's first moves now that he is back in Los Angeles is to regain custody of his children.

The body of Bruce's wife, Monica Beresford-Redman, was discovered on April 8 in a sewer at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun. TMZ broke the story that Beresford-Redman is back in L.A. Now his lawyer, Richard Hirsch, says that since his client has not been accused of a crime, he has a legal right to custody of his children.

Hirsch adds, "That is probably what is going to happen next."

Beresford-Redman's parents currently have temporary guardianship of his two children.

Hirsch tells TMZ Beresford-Redman has already retained a family law attorney to assist him.

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5/13/2010 8:00 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

TMZ has learned former "Survivor" contestant Kenward "Boo" Bernis has close ties to the woman he allegedly roughed up in a bar restroom ... because she's also a former CBS reality TV star.

Krista Stegall -- who appeared on "Big Brother" in 2001 -- tells TMZ she was in the bathroom at Bootleggers Bar in Lafayette, LA last month when Bernis allegedly stormed in, grabbed her arms, shoved her against a wall, and shouted, "this is my bar!" Stegall claims these photos (above) show the bruises she suffered in the alleged attack.

Stegall says she filed for a restraining order against Bernis last week. She claims she and Bernis -- who co-owns Bootleggers Bar -- were longtime friends, but never dated.

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5/8/2010 4:25 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

TMZ has obtained the will left by Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman ... and she left all her property to her husband, former "Survivor" producer Bruce Beresford-Redman -- the man who has been called "a person of interest" in her murder.

Under the will -- drafted in 2004 -- Monica leaves her jewelry, clothing, furniture, cars, books, real property and everything else to Bruce.

The will names Bruce as the executor, but if he is unable to serve, Monica's sister, Jeane Burgos-Carrno, is the alternate executor.

The will states if a guardian of her child becomes necessary (at the time they only had one child -- they now have 2), Monica's other sister -- Carla Ferreira-Burgos -- will become the guardian.

However California Probate Code (sec. 250) says, "A person who feloniously and intentionally kills the decedent is not entitled to ... any property, interest, or benefit under a will of the decedent." The code also forbids, "any nomination of the killer as executor, trustee, guardian, or conservator."

Remember, Bruce has not been arrested or charged in Monica's killing.

A court has made Bruce's parents the temporary guardians of the 2 kids. They are asking for permanent guardianship.

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4/28/2010 8:20 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

The horrible week for CBS reality stars continues -- TMZ has learned another "Survivor" star has been cited in Louisiana after cops say he battered a woman inside a bar restroom over the weekend.

Kenward "Boo" Bernis -- who competed on "Survivor: Fiji" back in 2007 -- is accused of walking into a ladies restroom at Bootleggers Bar in Lafayette, grabbing a woman by the upper arm and "forcibly move[ing] her."

As we've previously reported, another "Survivor" contestant -- Russell Hantz -- was also arrested in Lafayette on Friday for battering a woman. Hantz also co-owns the Bootleggers Bar where Bernis' alleged incident went down.

And over on "Big Brother" -- two dudes from Season 9 are in all sorts of trouble for allegedly operating an illegal prescription drug ring.

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4/24/2010 4:25 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

The "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" star who was arrested for battery in Louisiana yesterday claims the whole thing is a "misunderstanding" -- and is considering taking legal action against the cops who busted him.

A source close to Russell Hantz tells TMZ the reality star was partying near a bar he owns in Lafayette, LA Friday morning when some random partygoer told cops they saw Hantz push a woman.

We're told the alleged victim was a member of Hantz's party crew and she told cops that Hantz never touched her. But according to our source, cops told Hantz that because they had a witness statement, they were going to arrest him anyway.

We're told Hantz believes the cops mistreated him during the incident -- and now he's considering taking legal action against the arresting officers.

See also

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4/23/2010 2:48 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

The former "Survivor" producer -- Bruce Beresford-Redman -- suspected of killing his wife may now lose custody of his kids, because his parents have now made their move to get permanent guardianship ... TMZ has learned.

David and Juanita Beresford-Redman -- who now have temporary guardianship -- filed legal docs in L.A. County Superior Court asking to make them permanent guardians of the two children. They say Bruce wants it that way.

David and Juanita -- who filed papers without a lawyer -- say they are retired and in good heath, they've had a relationship with Alec and Camilia since birth, and are "able to devote ourselves to the care and nurture of our grandchildren."

David and Juanita say, "We are both well-educated, each with a masters degree ... we will be able to address questions that arise from our grandchildren..."

Those questions will surely include the murder of their mother, Monica, in Mexico. Bruce was detained but released and ordered to stay in the country pending the outcome of the investigation.

David and Juanita say their son is "assisting the Mexican authorities in matters concerning the murder."